i only pocket carry. i own the lcr .22lr and love the way it fits in my pocket. imo its super easy to draw. i know lots of people don't like the .357 in a snub but from youtube test it looks to be the most lethal. but there is a shortage of 9mm test in short barrels i know.

im leaning towards the lcr .357 mag cause to me it looks like it does much more damage than a .38 spl +p. im a believer in that first shot to save yourself. brassfetcher and many of you would say the .357 mag in a snub isn't much better than a .38 +p in a snub. maybe i don't understand something here but the .357 mag snub impresses me compared to .38 +p and even 9mm in a 4 inch.

as far as 5 shot .357 snub vs the shield or lc9, the semi autos have more shots and faster reload but how good is the 9mm in a short barrel compared to the .357 snub??? how fast of a draw from the pocket? i like the fact that if someone is on you a revolver will still function pressed up against something, no slide to get caught up on clothes.

Someone will be along here shortly to tell you the .357 has no real advantage over the .38 in a snub. I disagree. My last SP101 would do 1300 fps with any full-snort 125 grain 357 load.

Given your choices and apparent preferences, the LCR 357 gets the nod. The LC9 may ride a little flatter and if it'd stand Federal's 9BPLE load, I'd call it a wash.

The Shield is a fine pistol but after handling one side by side with an MP Compact... might as well get the Compact, in my opinion

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“Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals. It can only be ensured by instinct, sharpened by thought practicing the stroke so often that at the crisis it is as natural as a reflex.” ~ T. E. Lawrence

I highly recommend the LCR in .357. I posted a long rave on it about how much I loved mine. I believe it is the BEST pocket revolver out there. The catch--only shoot .38s out of it. With its design and its 17 oz. weight, it alone among pocket revolvers is comfortable to shoot. IF you stick to .38s. Even the vaunted FBI load is easy to shoot.

I can't speak to the Shield, it sounds great, but the LCR .357 easily beats your other choices in my opinion.

For pocket carry, I think the LCRs are the only workable option there unless you always wear pants with extra-large pockets like 5.11s. The Shield and the LC9 are about the same dimensions. The Shield has a better trigger. I think it is better-made, too.

If you think you might shoot .357s out of the LCR, just get the .357 LCR. You can always go to .38 Special +P, and the extra weight will make either caliber a little easier to handle. The Hogue Tamer grip helps a lot there, but its bulk and slight tackiness might make it hard for pocket carry.

No question the .357 Magnum from a snubby is more powerful than a .38 Special +P from a snubby or a 9mm from a subcompact.

But in order to hit low-end magnum performance, the recoil is tremendous.

Different strokes and all, but I would shoot whatever full-bore .357 you want to out of an LCR before deciding that's what you want to do.

The main .38 Special +P loads, the 135-gr. +P Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel and the 158-gr. +P LSWCHP from a variety of manufacturers perform pretty well- better than the plain numbers would indicate if you're the sort of person who likes muzzle energy.

The slower 9mm loads will do the same with heavy bullets, and will actually penetrate as far as a .357 with similar expansion. Slightly smaller wound cavities, though, but also much lower recoil.

Yes, the .357 is much more potent than the .38Spl, even from a short barrel. However, it ain't free and you pay for it in recoil and muzzle blast. I'd rather spend all day shooting .44Mags and heavy .45Colts than shoot a single box through a .357 snubby.

FWIW I've shot the LCR with 158 grain .357 Magnums... it jumps around some but it wasn't awful. Didn't have any trouble keeping a cylinder in 5" at 15 yards, centered on the front sight and shooting pretty fast. Groups were half that when I took my time and acquired a proper sight picture for each shot.

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“Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals. It can only be ensured by instinct, sharpened by thought practicing the stroke so often that at the crisis it is as natural as a reflex.” ~ T. E. Lawrence

Your life is at stake, pull the trigger. Not doing so because of anticipated recoil could cost you your life.

I've shot the same .357 loads from a 39 oz M-19 with a 6" barrel and stock wooden grips, and a 25? oz M-60 with a 2 1/8" barrel and Uncle Mike's combat grips. The M-60 was much more pleasant to shoot with the same load, in spite of its lighter weight and shorter barrel.

I've never shot the LCR .357 but if you like the LCR get the .357, you can always use .38 special in it if you want to. I do have a 642 and an LC9. I like both of them and I think the LC9 is a little smaller than the Shield. I don't have a problem with the LC9 trigger, some hate it. I make follow up shots faster with the LC than the 642. The 642 dishes out a little more punishment than the LC. The 642 is easier for me to carry, it weighs about 3 oz. less than the LC and I can actually tell the difference in my pocket. Both guns have been totally reliable so far.

Yes, but I'd be hard pressed to explain it. It feels to me like the LCR sits lower in the hand and has fewer 'unfriendly surfaces' for lack of a better term. I found it to be one of the easier-shooting 357 snubs I've fired.. but I'm OK with a 2 1/4" SP101 and 200 grain bear loads, too.

An awful lot of this recoil stuff is subjective. I shot two mags of 9x18 ball through a P63 awhile back... bit the inside of my big ol' thumb knuckle hard enough to draw blood. I hated the dang thing.

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“Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals. It can only be ensured by instinct, sharpened by thought practicing the stroke so often that at the crisis it is as natural as a reflex.” ~ T. E. Lawrence

I think the Speer Good Dot +P Short Barrel round has narrowed the gap between the 38 Special and 357 Magnum snubbie significantly. Now If I can only find a box or two to try. 13 3/4 inches of penetration with a fully expanded hollow point, and intact bullet is pretty impressive.

MLeake, you are tougher than I am. I have owned two Airweights, and they were classics, but noticeably more punishing than the LCR .357 with the same loads.

I guess that big laser grip might help, but I'm happy now with the LCR.

The LCR for me is bulky enough that not using a holster helps it fit in some pockets, you can then "spin" it down in so no one can see it down there. Maybe not the best tactically, but helps with concealment.

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